Honda Earth Dreams Technology Engines Named Among Ward's 10 Best Engines for 2013

4-cylinder and V-6 engines from all-new 2013 Accord honored

12/12/2012 2:01:00 PM

Two Honda Earth Dreams Technology engines powering the all-new 2013 Honda Accord were named to Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 2013. Nearly every 2013 Accord on sale in the United States is equipped with one of the honored engines; the direct-injected 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and the 3.5-liter V6 engine equipped with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM).

"Honda is first and foremost a motor company, and the new Earth Dreams Technology engines once again assert Honda's desire to lead the industry in powertrain efficiency while providing responsive power and fun for drivers," said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and logistics at American Honda. "Having both the 4-cylinder and the V-6 from the 2013 Accord honored on Ward's 10 Best Engines list shows that world-class powertrain technology doesn't have to come at a premium price."

Now in its 19th year, the Ward's 10 Best Engines competition is designed to recognize powertrains that set new benchmarks in their respective vehicle segments. To be eligible, an engine must be all-new or significantly improved and be available in a production vehicle that will be on sale by first-quarter 2013. To keep the competition in the realm of mainstream vehicles, base price is capped at $55,000.

"The 2.4L 4-cyl., Honda's first direct-injected engine in North America, is stunningly efficient and delivers ample low-end torque and a wonderful mid-range punch," said Tom Murphy, executive editor of WardsAuto World. "We drove the car 537 miles, and two editors exceeded 33 mpg, not bad for a generously proportioned sedan."

"We've always enjoyed Honda's SOHC 60-degree V-6 and have given it Ward's 10 Best Engines trophies in 2005, 2008 and 2009," Murphy continued. "But now it comes with several significant updates and makes a convincing argument that conventional port-injected engines can be powerful and fuel-stingy, while being less expensive to build."

Honda "Earth Dreams Technology" is a next generation set of technological advancements which greatly enhance both driving performance and fuel efficiency, using, as its base, advanced environmental technologies to pursue the joy of driving unique to Honda.

The new direct-injected 2.4-liter i-VTEC in-line 4-cylinder powerplant is the standard Accord engine. Offering 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, this engine delivers 4-percent more horsepower and 12-percent more torque compared to its predecessor, while operating on regular unleaded fuel and meeting the strict PZEV and ULEV-2 emissions standards. With its high-flow exhaust system, the Accord Sport Sedan 4-cylinder engine generates 189 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque.

The new 4-cylinder engine can be paired with two new transmissions, a 6-speed manual transmission with smooth and precise shift action, or with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). With a wider gear ratio range than the 5-speed automatic transmission it replaces, combined with greater operating efficiency, the CVT is a major contributor to the Accord's improved fuel efficiency.

The available 3.5-liter V-6 engine now delivers 278 horsepower at 6200 rpm (an increase of seven horsepower) and 252 lb-ft of torque at 4900 rpm. Torque is significantly improved between idle and the 4900-rpm torque peak, where the engine typically operates. On V-6 models with an automatic transmission, the engine also features a new generation of Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) variable displacement technology and a special SOHC i-VTEC valvetrain. Depending on driving conditions, the engine operates on three or all six cylinders to help boost fuel efficiency or power as needed. The V-6 is designed to run on regular unleaded fuel and also meets ULEV-2 emissions standards.

In the 2013 Accord sedan, the V-6 engine is paired with a new 6-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control. More compact and efficient than the 5-speed automatic transmission it replaces, the 6-speed automatic significantly improves both acceleration and fuel efficiency.